i must say it's a real privilege to be here millions from around the world are tuning in for
the biggest final in club football the champions league final i'm derek ray my co-commentator is as
always lee dixon and with the atmosphere building up very nicely we're just minutes away from
kick-off time it's paris saint-germain taking on liverpool good evening what a pleasure it is to be
here with you derek sitting over this magnificent stadium with arguably the best two teams well
obviously the best two teams in this competition this year because they're in the final and what
a final we've got the pitch looks fantastic the crowd are there's the trophy just sitting there
and the players in the tunnel just about to do what they do best go out and play and entertain us
it is the game that the world truly focuses on the champions league final only two teams left
in the quest for european glory who's it going to be tonight lee well it's the toss of a coin
for me it's a really big night for everybody all that hard work leading up to pre-season training
going through your domestic league playing champions league on and off the winter break
all of that culminates in tonight very very big night for everybody concerned supporters
but most so the players they have to stay focused play the game not the occasion
and they're underway now in the champions league final we're about to find out which team is the
best in europe and here is the initial 11 for paris saint-germain luigi donnarumma is the keeper
sergio ramos plays alongside marquinhos in central defense marco verrazzi starts with georginio
reynaldo in central midfield and lining up through the middle and attack today is kylian mbappe
could he find someone at the far post very clear who got the last touch so a corner coming up
i would imagine lee in the pre-match team meeting the defenders would have been told to
keep an eye on neymar he's on the ball all the time and his ability on the ball is absolutely
phenomenal he doesn't pass the ball away he lends it to his teammates because he wants it back
very difficult to get the ball off him let's take a look at the liverpool
starting eleven alison gets the node in goal trent alexander arnold starts with
andrew robertson in the wide defensive areas mohamed salah plays with sadio mane out wide
and rather than use a strike partnership they've gone with just the one player in attack
di maria
giving the ball to the opposition that time
over the top into the stride of sadio manet in towards salah it's still alive
another time for cool heads
lionel messi
in the right place to cut out the pass
salah alexander arnold nearest thiago fabinho
here's framino might take the lead and forcing his opponents in the nick of time
the really intense pressure applied
and a throw in it's going to be
now he must favor the cross alexander arnold
this is salah alexander arnold cabino well he read that brilliantly at the back
using a strength to hold on to the ball and wait for teammates to arrive
can they forge ahead marquinhos with the block
and back with robertson exerted but he keeps the ball
looked as though they meant business but now they've got to try again
he's enjoying space towards neymar
back post but it did look dangerous for a moment but the keeper has it now
well liverpool dominated possession over the last 15 minutes derrick they have set the tempo they've
used their possession to create chances they've got a strong glove on the ball from the keeper
that's the kind of shielding player you expect from him
liverpool might be able to cash in
mohamed salah now alexander arnold and the liverpool throw in forthcoming
he has time to play us over
cleared away comprehensively something to worry about here alexander arnold
and they've won possession again he succeeds in clearing it
a bit of running room now on the way
tremendous ball played through a smart stop here
and it could be an opportunity for psg to take the lead from a corner
fired in by neymar
half time then and we're sorry for the pause and the proceedings here
lee because this has been a thoroughly riveting champions league final so far
well it has great game sometimes finals could be cagey affairs but not this one
let's hope derek in the second half we get more of that it's been really really entertaining
into the second half then in this battle for champions league glory
fabinho here's casa
sadio manny now liverpool have given us away
this looks threatening
tremendous block
over the touch line for a throw-in and they will make the change now
akimi making sure nothing untoward happened
oxlade-chamberlain roberto firmino
nabbi casa oh what a perfect ball now how about this pivotal moment defensively
this might be the perfect counter attacking opportunity
di maria in the center and it looked like open road for them but up
alexander arnold
and dribbling with it but out of play
is this the moment the goal then for penny man the first one of this champions league final
oh they've got the noses in front can they stay there now the other team are playing catch up
well here's the goal again and it's a great ball to put him through and when he gets through to
the keeper he just smashes it past him and gives him no chance to think a lovely finish
well i think the coach can feel the game slipping away here he's showing
his frustration on the sidelines well liverpool's name of the game is keeping
possession but it's just whether they can convert that possession into clear-cut chances
you essentially need to pick up the pace a little start utilizing the wide areas more
the back line is doing a decent job hopefully the forwards can do that as well fabinho
chamberlain that's the kind of player you want from your defender
and leonel messi giving it away not really liking and that puts them in position and
the decision is one of offside here are going to switch things around on the personnel front
by naldum and find work from liverpool to win the ball back
virgil van dyke and here they come still pressing for an equalizer oh
lovely weighted ball they might be in and he clears it out of harm's way
and the conditions look pretty good for the counter attack
and he takes on the shots oh excellent diving stop
another goal from this corner would in all likelihood secure victory
now the delivery the header but
far too straight to worry the keeper yeah meet and drink for a goalkeeper of that class
tackling and winning the ball to boot
and only two minutes remaining here
kojo van dyke well adding up all the stoppages we will have two extra minutes andrew robertson
unsuccessfully cut out
full-time parisian pride shines through psg have cleared the final hurdle in the champions league
well almost no words are needed you just look down at the celebrations the relief after the
final whistle commiserations to the other players but it's a celebration time now all that sacrifice
and commitment and desire to win a trophy and they've won the biggest one absolutely brilliant
this is what paris saint-germain have been targeting for a good number of years
it's official now they are psg the best in europe well breathe it in breathe these moments in
how many times you get the chance to stand on a podium let alone pick that trophy up
deep breaths from the captain just before he actually puts his hand on this famous trophy
the cup with the big ears as they sometimes call it and it's the property now for this year at any
rate of psg well they've been celebrating long into the night with their friends and family
and quite rightly so i'll be a late night derek i'm sure a fantastic feeling for all